Best in Breed

rufts has never interested me as I know little about dogs, but this year, for the first time, I watched some of the programmes the BBC broadcast from show. Instead of the immaculate professionalism we've come to expect from Auntie these days, largely because she keeps telling us about it in connection with programmes like the beautiful but empty Planet Earth, it was hugely enjoyable amateurism.

Voices echoed alarmingly, and a commentator spoke to camera but forgot to pick up his hand-held microphone, so we heard nothing until a fellow commentator picked it up and handed it to him. Shortly afterwards the producers cut back to Ben Fogle in the studio, revealing a stage hand in shot who paused briefly then scuttled out of view. It was as though they were pretending to be atrocious.

Ben himself, however, was the best. His boyish enthusiasm in Animal Park is perfectly placed and his endurance in running across the Sahara and rowing across the Atlantic Ocean is admirable. Wearing rimless glasses at Crufts, however, gave only a spurious sheen of intelligence that was quickly tarnished when talking excitedly about wolf hounds, deer hounds, otter hounds and elk hounds:

"These dogs all have very specific roles. What do elk hounds do?"

The owner of the elk hound could only look bemused as he replied, "Well, Ben, they hunt elks."

(By the way, did Rodney, the champion black miniature poodle, have a mad glint in his eye or are all poodles like that?)

Tags: Crufts | Ben Fogle | amateur | BBC | elk hound